Vending machines



March 10, 1964 Filed April 27, 1961 /N VENTOR HE/NZ BRAUNSBERG -A TTORNEV H. BRAUNSBERG VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1964 H. BRAUNSBERG VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1961 HE INZ BRA UNSBERG wmn. k

A TTORNEV March 10, 1964 H. BRAUNSBERG 3,124,397

VENDING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HE/NZ BRAUNSBERG ATTORNEY March 10 19 H. BRAUNSBERG 3,124,397

VENDING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS. gawk ArToR/vEr United States Patent 3,124,397 VENDING MACHWES Heinz Braunsberg, 856 Burlington Ave, Bristol, Conn. Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 106,049 (Ilaims. (Cl. 31297.1)

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to coin, token or push-button controlled dispensing devices having a multiplicity of storage areas, with a programming mechanism by which said areas will be successively stepped to present them to delivery position.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliably operative device for programming such movements of the storage areas so that a plurality of shelves or layers may be stepped rotatively, in order, and as each is exhausted of its commodities the next layer or shelf will be made available for step-by-step presentation and delivery of the commodities thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide a relatively compact machine as outlined above in which a smgle coin-controlled device is common to the functioning of the presentation of all the storage areas one after the other until the commodities contained on one shelf have been exhausted then, progressively, those on the next shelf, and so on until all shelves have been emptied and a signal shall automatically so indicate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively compact machine that is adapted to store and d1spense commodities of a large and bulky character in a multiplicity of individual compartments and one in which only one compartment is accessible at any one operat1on, the commodities in all other compartments being fully protected against removal.

A still further object is to provide a machine of the above character that will deliver such commodities without causing them to slide or tumble with a possibility of damage to the article delivered.

A still further object is to provide a machine of the commercial dispensing type which embodies a simple but reliable electro-mechanical programming system.

A still further obg'ect is to provide a machine of the above character that does not require specially trained technicians for its servicing.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part particularly pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the machine of the invention showing the main door unlocked and opened and illustrates the start position of the dispensing drum therein prior to being loaded with commodities;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the machine with part of the main door of FIGURE 1 broken away for the purpose of more clearly illustrating elements of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of one level of the dispensing drum and the control mechanism therefor and illustrates the programming mechanism cooperating therewith. The section is taken substantially along lines 33 of FIG. 2 with the machine in start position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating drum of FIG. 3 in an actuated condition;

FIG. 5 is a view that illustrates a portion of the lowest level of the dispensing drum after it has been actuated to the final dispensing station and shows the door open with the merchandise accessible to the purchaser;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the pertinent electro-mechanical controls for the dispensing drum of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, the machine of the invention consists mainly the of a housing It which may or may not be insulated, depending on the type of commodity stored therein. A commodity carrying drum indicated at 12 is adapted to be rotated at specific angular distancewithin said housing in order to present the commodities to a delivery station in sequential order. The main door of the machine is generally indicated at 14 and, when closed, normally seals oif accessibility to the commodity carrying drum 12. Door 14- supports the main programming apparatus, to be described, whereby each article stored within the drum is made individually accessible upon introduction of a particular coin deposited in the coin box 16 mounted at the inner portion of the door. Coin box 16 may be of the commercially available type and forms no direct portion of this invention.

The drum 12 may be a five compartment, five level unit, be struck up from light gage metal sections and may be Welded together compartment by compartment, as indicated at 17 in FIGURE 3. Dispensing drum 12 supports a long rod 18 made integral therewith whereby drum and rod rotate in unison upon actuation. Rod 18 is supported for rotary motion by upper and lower bearings suitably mounted within the housing It the lower of which is indicated at I? in FIGURE 2. A collar 13a is adjustably attached at the lower portion of rod 18 for the purpose of preventing excess pressure on the lower bearing. Drum 12 has fixed to the underside thereof an aunular ring 2%. The rotary movement of the drum is controlled by the energization and deenergization of a solenoid 21 and a drive wheel 22, the latter of which is the frictional driving force for the drum 12 when a motor, indicated at 23 of FEGURE l, is energized by a coin being introduced into the coin box 16. The motor may be of the standard vending machine type with a rating of I-I.P.-l5 r.p.m. Solenoid 21 and motor 23 are electrically connected in series, as seen in FIGURE 6, and are enabled and disabled simultaneously, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

The motor assembly is pivotally supported on a platform 25 fixed within the housing it) and the drive wheel 22 is arranged to frictionally engage the inner portion of annular ring 29 by a spring 2d. Each energization of motor 23 turns wheel 22 which rotates the drum to a new dispensing position.

Also fixed to the underside of drum 12 and projecting downwardly therefrom are a pair of tabs 2% and 29, the function of each to be explained hereinafter.

Fixed to the main door 14 by welding or the like are a series of cross members 3% and a pair of uprights 32 which may be fixed to the cross members 30. A rectangularly shaped section 34 is fixed to uprights 32 and pivotally supports a series of spring-urged door latches 36. Within the section 34 a series of small doors 38 are arranged and mounted as by hinges to the main door 14, as seen in FIGURE 2. Doors 38 are so mounted as to register with each compartment of the dispensing drum 12 and are spring urged to the position seen in FIGURE 1 and 2 by standard torsion springs mounted within the hinges, one of which is indicated in FIGURE 2 at 38a. The small doors 38 are held individually latched in the home or FIGURE 1 position of the dispensing drum 12 by the latches 36.

Main door 14 also supports a program cam 37 which is mounted for free rotation on a support 39 fixed between uprights 32. Cam 37 may be an aluminum casting which has a series of studs 48, 41, 42, 43, 44- and 45 and a multiple of levels 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, 37s and 37 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5.

Mounted at the inner portion of main door 14 is a program bar 48 which has fixed to the lower portion thereof a roller 47, adapted to rest in a notch 49 of level 37a of cam 37 in the home position of the dispensing drum l2 and program cam 37. Program bar 48 may be guided for slideable movement by retainers t) as best seen in FIGURE 1, and is provided with differentially spaced indentations 53a, 51b, 51c, 51d and 51a which, when brought into cooperating proximity with the small door latches 36, allow the latter to be actuated for liberating its respective door. Liberation of a particular door 38 renders a particular compartment of the dispensing drum 12 and the comodity therein accessible after the drum 12 has been rotated by means or" placing a coin in the coin box 16.

Program bar 48 is further provided with a set of protrusions 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d and 5242, presently to be explained.

Fixed on cross members 39 at the inner portion of main door 14 is a plate 54 which fixedly mounts a series of differentially spaced switches 56. These switches are so positioned as to cooperate with protrusions 52a52e of the program bar 48. As will be further explained, protrusions 52a52e sequentially actuate the switches 56 at each program step of bar 4-8.

A series of lamps 58, moutned at the level of each small door 33, are electrically and individually controlled by each of the switches 56 during each program step of the program bar 48. A main cable 669 is connected to a source of electric current and supplies the power to all components during the operation of the machine.

Provision is made in open area 62 of housing It) for adapting a refrigerating unit (not shown) commonly used in machines of this general character should the machine of the invention be supplied with perishable commodities or those which it is desirable to maintain chilled. However, the instant unit is adaptable to store and dispense commodities of a non-perishable nature such as canned goods of extraordinary size or the like.

With the machine at home position, as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and referring particularly to the schematic diagram of FIGURE 6, it can be seen that by placing a particular coin in the coin box 116 (FIGURE 1) a switch 65 is momentarily closed which supplies current to a relay 67 via conductor 68. A circuit to relay 67 is completed via conductor 69 and connecting line it? to the common side of the circuit. Upon energization of relay 67, switches 67a and 6712 close. Closure of switch 67a provides a holding circuit for relay 67 via conductor 71, a switch 72 mounted on platform 25 of housing lid and line 73 which is connected to the current supply. Coin switch 65 now opens and has no further control over relay 67 during the immediate dispensing operation.

Closure of switch 67b provides current for solenoid 2i and series connected motor 23 via the current input, through connecting line 73, switch 72, conductor 71, switches 67a and 67b, conductor 75, connecting line 76 to solenoid 21, and from line 75 to the motor 23. A circuit is completed to solenoid 21 via conductor 69 and connecting line 77. The circuit to motor 23 is completed via conductor 69 and connecting line 79.

Simultaneous energization of solenoid 21 and motor 23 causes the solenoid armature 21a to be withdrawn from opening 81 in annular ring 2t) against the urge of its spring and the motor 23 to rotate drive wheel 22 clockwise, as seen in FIGURE 4.

The drive wheel 22 frictionally engaged with the annular ring 2t) rotates the drum l2 fixed thereto an angular amount of movement whereby tab 23 engages stud 4d of cam 37 and thereby rotates said cam to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Drive wheel 2522 continues to drive drum l2 beyond the position shown in FIGURE 4 as stud 4% falls below the contact face of tab 2%. However, when an opening 81 in annular ring 2d reaches the spring-strap of switch 7 2 the contacts thereof are momentarily opened. At such occurrence the circuit that existed to relay 67 via fixed switch 7?, and relay switch 67a is opened (see FIGURE 6) and switches 67a and 67b transfer to open position. Switch 72 will again close as the drum travels by momentum to condition the circuit for the next dispensing operation. With the deenergization of solenoid 21 its spring actuates armature 23a forward whereby the latter enters the approaching opening 81 in annular ring 29 and thereby arrests the drum 12.

With the rotation of cam 37 to the FIGURE 4 position, roller 47 on bar 48 drops to the next lower level 37b of the cam 37 and allows program bar 43 to drop a specified distance by means of gravity. As a result of such movement indentation 51a in bar 48 is aligned with the formed portion of door latch 36 of the topmost door 38 and allows compression spring 35 to pivot the latch and disengage it from locking position shown in FlGURE 2 to the unlocked position shown in FIGURE 5. The door may now be opened and the article removed from the initial compartment of the upper level of the dispensing machine.

At the same time, the upper protrusion 52a on program bar 48 engages the operating strap of the upper switch 56 and causes the lamp 53 associated with the upper level of dispensing compartments to light. The switch is held operated and indicates that the upper level is in operation. Further, the upper door now remains unlatched after the article is removed from the initial compartment but the hinge spring 38a causes the door to close when released. The initial compartment is now empty, the door unlatched and the level indicating lamp agiow.

As can be readily seen in the drawings only a single compartment may be presented upon insertion of a coin into the coin box 16. Only a single level at a time may be accessible and only one compartment of that level. Webs 5% divide the compartments so that after one compartment has dispensed its article a rotation of the drum is necessitated before the adjacent compartment is accessible.

For purposes of this disclosure, the initial movement of the dispensing drum 12 has a rotation of 72 from home position to the initial dispensing station. Now, each time a coin is introduced into the coin box 16 the drum 12 will be rotated an additional 72, as determined by the openings 81 in the annular ring 29, as described above.

t thus follows that after five coins have been inserted into the coin box 16 and five articles removed the drum will have rotated an angular distance of 360.

The drum 12 is, therefore, returned to home position and the upper level thereof devoid of commodities. However, roller 47 now rests at level 37b of cam 37 and program bar 48 is positioned so that its indentation 51a registers with upper door latch 36. Protrusion 52a on bar 48 holds upper switch 56 closed. The indentations are so spaced that only one latch at a time will register therewith and the switches are so staggered that only the proper switch at the proper level will be closed to illuminate its corresponding lamp 58.

Upon insertion of the sixth coin into the coin box 16, tab 28 encounters stud 41 of cam 37 whereby roller 47 drops to cam level 37c. Indentation 511) will now register with the door latch of the second level whereby that door is unlocked and the article removed from the initial compartment of the second level of the drum 112. At the same time bar protrusion 52b closes its related switch and illuminates the indicating lamp 58 associated with the second level of compartments of drum 12. Furthermore, as program bar 48 dropped, indentation Sia moved beyond latch 36 of the upper door and rendered it again locked. Concurrently, protrusion 52:; on program bar 48 dropped below the strap of upper switch 56 which causes it to open and extinguish lamp 5% associated with the upper level of compartments.

The same mode of operation that was described with regard to processing the upper level of drum 12 will ensue whereby the commodities of the third, fourth and fifth levels of the drum 12 will be made available and the machine emptied of merchandise.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the condition of cam 3'7 and program bar 48 when the last article on level five has been delivered and available for removal. Tab 29, projecting from the underside of drum 12, is now in operative registry with a switch 83. Such operation illuminates an Empty lamp 84 that is located adjacent coin box 16, best seen in FIGURE 1, and advertises the fact that the machine is exhausted of commodities.

When the machine is to be replenished with merchandise, the main door 14 is unlocked, then opened. The program bar 48 is manually elevated, cam 37 is manually returned to the position shown in FIGURE 2 and the roller 47 on program bar 48 situated within notch 49 on level 37a of cam 37. The dispensing drum 12 and programming apparatus is now in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. Door 14 is again locked and the machine restored to operation.

Thus it can be appreciated that a minimum of time and technical knowledge is required to restore the instant vending machine to operation.

It should be noted that the apparatus of this invention can readily be adapted for selective operation. The hus ing may be enlarged to accommodate a multiple of drums 12, each with its own drive and programming mechanism. Simple circuitry may be arranged whereby depression of switch button and deposit of a coin may make available a certain article of a variety.

It is conceivable that the machine of the instant disclosure may be made a selective choice unit. Drum 12 may be composed of two sections, each with its own drive motor and programming elements and a minimum of alteration to the circuitry.

Having described the invention by making detailed reference to preferred forms of the elements thereof it is obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore understood that this invention is not limited to the exact arrangement, construction or combination of parts disclosed herein except as limited by the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bulk vending machine having a cabinet with a main front door and a step-by-step rotatable drum with a plurality of shelves, each of which has a plurality of storage areas, a vertical arrangement of small hinged doors in the main door, positioned to be cooperative with the different shelves selectively, latches for said smaller doors to primarily hold them latched, indicating lights in said main door for showing which of said smaller doors is unlatched, a programming mechanism on the main door comprising a cam and a dual-purpose slide supported on said cam against the force of gravity and having means for progressively unlatching the hinged doors while simultaneously operating the indicator light for the unlatched door, friction drive means for said drum, and means on said frictionally driven drum for rotating said cam a step once each revolution of the drum whereby said slide drops by force of gravity to effect its stated purposes.

2. In a bulk vending machine having a cabinet with a main front door and a step-by-step rotatable drum with a plurality of shelves, each of which has a plurality of storage areas, a vertical arrangement of smaller hinged doors in the main door positioned to be cooperative with the different shelves selectively, latches for said smaller doors to primarily hold them latched, indicating lights for indicating which of said smaller doors is unlatched, a programming mechanism on the main door comprising a multi-level cam and a dual-purpose slide having two longitudinal edges, said slide supported on different levels of said cam against the force of gravity and having means for progressively unlatching the hinged doors while simultaneously operating the indicator light for the unlatched door, said slide also having indentations along one longitudinal edge and protrusions along the other longitudinal edge, friction drive means for said drum, and means on said drum for rotating said cam a step once each revolution of the drum whereby said slide drops by force of gravity to effect its stated purposes.

3. In a vending machine, a housing having a plurality of selectively operable hinged discharge doors arranged within a main door of said housing, said hinged doors arranged for being latched and unlatched, a drum within said housing having a plurality of storage levels each of which is aligned with each of said hinged doors, each storage level having a plurality of commodity storage areas, a projection on said drum, said drum adapted to rotate in sequential fashion to present said storage areas opposite said hinged doors, a multi-stage programming apparatus including a dual-purpose slide and a multi'level, freely rotatable cam having angularly spaced studs integral therewith, means on said door for mounting said cam, said slide guided for vertical movement and having two longitudinal edges, said slide provided with a plurality of notches along one longitudinal edge and a plurality of protrusions along the other longitudinal edge, said slide mounted in said main door and supported against the force of gravity by at least one of said levels of said cam, a plurality of latches, one for each hinged door, said latches under control of said notched longitudinal edge of said slide, a plurality of switches for controlling indicating means which indicate the latched or unlatched condition of each hinged door, said switches under control of said protruded longitudinal edge of said slide, and means including a motor to frictionally drive said drum whereby said projection thereon engages one of said angularly spaced studs on said cam to angularly displace the cam and said cam level thereon whereupon said slide lowers to effect unlatching of one hinged door while effecting latching of all other hinged doors and also activates one of said indicating means while deactivating all other of said indicating means.

4. In a bulk vending machine, a housing having a main door and at least one hinged discharge door having an indicating light therefor, program means including a cam and a dual-purpose slide for unlatching said hinged door and activating said indicating light, a drum within said housing having at least one storage level with a plurality of commodity storage areas aligned with said hinged door, an annular member integral with said drum and provided with a leading opening and following angularly spaced openings therein which are progressively aligned with said hinged door, a solenoid fixed within said housing having a spring-loaded armature integral therewith, a switch fixed within said housing having a flexible switch contact member engaging said annular member, a friction drive wheel in contact with said annular member and a motor drive therefor, said solenoid armature normally positioned within the leading opening of said annular member under the urge of said spring, and means to energize said motor and solenoid simultaneously through said switch whereby said armature is removed from said leading opening of said annular member and said drive wheel rotates said drum an angular distance defined by said spaced openings while said program means holds said hinged door unlatched and said indicator light on.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further defined to include a relay arranged electrically in series with said motor and solenoid to effect control of said drum rotation.

Barker et al Oct. 29, 1957 Barker et al Sept. 30, 1958 

1. IN A BULK VENDING MACHINE HAVING A CABINET WITH A MAIN FRONT DOOR AND A STEP-BY-STEP ROTATABLE DRUM WITH A PLURALITY OF SHELVES, EACH OF WHICH HAS A PLURALITY OF STORAGE AREAS, A VERTICAL ARRANGEMENT OF SMALL HINGED DOORS IN THE MAIN DOOR, POSITIONED TO BE COOPERATIVE WITH THE DIFFERENT SHELVES SELECTIVELY, LATCHES FOR SAID SMALLER DOORS TO PRIMARILY HOLD THEM LATCHED, INDICATING LIGHTS IN SAID MAIN DOOR FOR SHOWING WHICH OF SAID SMALLER DOORS IS UNLATCHED, A PROGRAMMING MECHANISM ON THE MAIN DOOR COMPRISING A CAM AND A DUAL-PURPOSE SLIDE SUPPORTED ON SAID CAM AGAINST THE FORCE OF GRAVITY AND HAVING MEANS FOR PROGRESSIVELY UNLATCHING THE HINGED DOORS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATING THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE UNLATCHED DOOR, FRICTION DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID DRUM, AND MEANS ON SAID FRICTIONALLY DRIVEN DRUM FOR ROTATING SAID CAM A STEP ONCE EACH REVOLUTION OF THE DRUM WHEREBY SAID SLIDE DROPS BY FORCE OF GRAVITY TO EFFECT ITS STATED PURPOSES. 